Solar PV Expert To Highlight Rooftop Solar Investment Potential At All-Energy
The potential for developers and landlords to benefit from the installation of solar panels is substantial thanks to recent government legislative changes, leading energy expert Giles Hanglin will tell delegates at the All-Energy conference next month (6-7 May 2015).
Hanglin, director at Savills Energy, is to outline at the UK's largest renewable energy event how property owners, tenants, landlords and managers can generate revenue and improve their green credentials by investing in rooftop solar as an energy source.
Recent changes announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will enable investors, from 2019, to move building-mounted solar panels to a different location without losing Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) accreditation. This could be the catalyst needed to drive greater commercial take-up, Hanglin will argue.
The changes remove the inflexibility of the system that proved to be a major deterrent, says Hanglin, who leads Savill Energy's commercial rooftop solar PV installation consultancy. Under the former FiT scheme, an installation had to remain in the same position for 20 years to maintain accreditation.
In addition, DECC's confirmation that schemes of up to one megawatt (1MW) in size will no longer require full planning approval before permission is granted removes a further barrier.
"After campaigning in favour of these changes, we were very pleased that the government listened to the concerns we raised," explains Hanglin. "Former key investment barriers are set to be removed which will make rooftop solar a more attractive option for property owners, tenants, landlords and managers. There is significant potential that can now be unlocked for large-scale commercial solar installations.
"We are confident that there will be a rush to invest once businesses realise the commercial benefits of the rooftop solar opportunity."
Hanglin will be speaking at All-Energy's onsite and microgeneration session at 10.30am on Thursday, May 7. He will outline the main areas that must be progressed if solar PV is to reach its full potential in the UK, including the impact on leasehold and tenancy agreements and the subsequent effect on property valuations.
Different ownership models, the role of property valuation assessments and the steps required to unlock large scale development in this sector will be an additional key focus. Hanglin will also provide clarification on the specific and bespoke solar insurance that de-risks the solar investment process, which Savills Energy has developed through working with several insurance brokers.
Joining Hanglin at the All-Energy conference is Stuart Campbell, director at Savills Energy, who will be speaking at the finance and funding session at 2pm on Wednesday, May 6, where he will examine effective energy performance.
Nick Green, director and head of energy for Savills in Scotland, will outline how the rural economy can maximise income from renewable energy projects as part of a panel discussion at 10:30am on Thursday, May 7.
